Everyone at the Federation is hard working and genuinely cares about improving outcomes for students. Colleagues are friendly and there is a good atmosphere to work in. Finance are always looking to improve.Work/life balance is improving and the pay/benefits package is good for the sector. The hardest part of the job (as with most large companies) is the decision-making timescales.

Pros

Colleagues, high performing organisation

Cons

Limited hybrid/flexible working (though this is improving), low levels of delegated authority

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Very Stressful place to work

Teacher (Former Employee) - Falconwood and Welling - 30 June 2022

This Harris federation is the most stressful and challenging place to work in , staff encounters every day anxiety and stressful situation due to very poor behaviour of students , always short of staff , covering every day instead of planning and preparing ! If you want to be sane you need to stay away from this brand !

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Insights into Harris Federation

Based on 15 survey responses

Areas for improvement

Sense of belonging
Trust in colleagues
Support from manager

Stressful environment with high turnover

Music Teacher (Current Employee) - Bromley - 28 May 2022

I was the sole music teacher for two years, this was my first teaching position and I had no support or resources. Many teachers are leaving due to the unrealistic expectations and crazy workload.

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Avoid!

Teacher of English (Former Employee) - Falconwood and Welling - 25 March 2022

No life work balance! The expectations set are unrealistic. You constantly are under scrutiny from SLT. It is a very stressful environment to work in.

Pros

None

Cons

Long hours, unrealistic expectations, lack of support

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Professional & Secure Employer

PA to Executive Director/Head of Academy (Current Employee) - Kent - 12 March 2022

I have worked for Harris Federation for 12 years and would see myself staying for the duration of my working life. Opportunities and progression always on offer and a job where you will feel supported. I feel proud to be part of the Harris family and the investment we all put in changing so many children's lives.

Pros

No two days the same, always interesting

Cons

Sometimes long hours to complete deadlines

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Do not work at this Academy unless you want no life!

EYFS Leader (Former Employee) - Peckham - 22 February 2022

There is no work life balance at the school and your mental health will suffer as it is very stressful. No matter how many hours and how much you put into the job they are never satisfied and always want more from you despite you doing the best you can and everything better than being at a very high standard. The pay is good but that is about the only positive. I would not recommend working for Harris Federation!

Pros

Slightly better than average pay Good resources

Cons

Long hours, no work life balance, stressful job, management not good and put too much pressure on staff, they are never happy, not recommended!

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Very organised place to work at

Physics specialist teacher (KS3-5) and Head of STEM (TLR) (Former Employee) - Crystal Palace - 20 February 2022

Very professional workplace. Disciplined and great work ethic instilled within the school. Support system is phenomenal and tha includes the Academy consultants going around assisting where applicable

Pros

Senior support and regimented work regime

Cons

Copious meetings and some work hours for some days

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Lots of CPD but limited progression opportunities

Learning Support Assistant (LSA) (Former Employee) - St. John's Wood - 13 February 2022

Good first job. Staff can be supportive. Students are generally well-behaved and fun to work with.Put on a timetable all day- every hour has to be accounted for.

Pros

The kids

Cons

Salary, limited autonomy, progression opportunities

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Depressing place to work.

Counsellor (Former Employee) - Rainham - 19 December 2021

No consideration for staff. They don't care how stressed staff are, they just want the job done. Management care about how the school looks to outsiders more than its staff.

Pros

None

Cons

Unrealistic expectations. No support for staff or consideration for staff mental health

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You can make progress quickly and it's nice being part of a large network but leadership are obsessed with Ofsted.

Head of Department (Former Employee) - London, Greater London - 16 December 2021

You can make progress quickly and it's nice being part of a large network but leadership are obsessed with Ofsted and as a result work/life balance for staff becomes very poor.

Pros

progress, salary, nice students

Cons

no work/life balance, management don't care about staff only Ofsted which leads to high turnover.

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Jobs at Harris Federation

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Reprographics Officer

Corporate work culture / rigged assessments

English as an Additional Language Teacher (Former Employee) - London - 18 October 2021

Cronyism is rife at the top level. Lots of consultants continually recommending changes in work practice. Too much emphasis on manipulating of targets to create false impression of success. Students don't really learn and get pushed onto level 2 btec courses, which have no examinations and can easily be rigged. Witnessed teachers writing 5 different versions of answers to written assignments and getting groups of students to copy one of the versions to enter as coursework. Only a handful of the student's folders get sent in for checking by assessors and they make sure that the 'right' ones are chosen. Kids are getting passes and no real knowledge or understanding. This is happening across the core subjects. It gives the false impression of a successful school and further reinforces the success of the academy system. There is also a very handsome bonus system in place for senior management, who basically reward themselves for 'success' in this rigged system. This is the future of inner city education.

Pros

None

Cons

Underappreciated by federation bigwigs and senior management

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productive and a fun but calm workplace

Teacher Assistant (Former Employee) - East Dulwich - 16 June 2021

i was there for work experience and it was really good experience. the staff were nice. and the children were well behaved and always willing to learn. i think if you love teaching and children this is a great job for you. i worked with receptions so there was a lot of drawing and sticking things.

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Very heavy work load but a great place to work

FINANCE OFFICER (Contract) (Former Employee) - Bermondsey, and Tottenham - 26 May 2021

Very pressurised workplace, big workload and not a lot of support. However saying that I really liked working for Harris as they care about the children in their care without reservation

Pros

good lunch, nice offices and pleasant staff

Cons

long hours

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misleading

pastoral support officer (Former Employee) - Falconwood and Welling - 17 February 2021

This establishment is run as a business not as a school and in my experience the SLT have no interest in the students wellbeing whatsoever. it is all about the fancy new state of the art building which potential new students are overwhelmed with, in my experience it is the staff that work there that make it a good school.

Cons

undervalued

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Harris Academy Peckham

Deputy Head of Modern Foreign Languages (Former Employee) - Peckham, Greater London - 7 November 2020

I spent 5 truly wonderful years teaching at Harris Academy Peckham. I acquired lots of varied teaching expertise, and worked with amazing colleagues, so supportive professionally, & equally so personable. I loved the dynamic environment, and feel very blessed, I got to work for many outstanding leaders.I started as an NQT, & after achieving full QTS status, I secured an additional position as Academy Wide Most Able coordinator, which I fulfilled for two years. In addition to teaching French and Spanish, I llaunched & developed the German department. The Harris Federation offers opportunities galore for career & professional development, which all positively profoundly shaped me in my teaching, & love of the profession.

Pros

Lots of amazing training across different topics.

Cons

Lots of competing demands to juggle

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Fair busy work environment

Design Technology Technician (Former Employee) - Merton - 10 August 2020

I worked at Harris for a couple of months the work environment was fairly busy with all students on task! I found that the role some what confusing as it was a dual rol support staff / technician. I believe that the roles that I was covering was fairly busy and adhoc.

Pros

Always busy

Cons

Required differentiation due to the task and outcomes

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The right data & progress...by any means

Teacher (Former Employee) - South East London, Greater London - 2 August 2020

If you are a career goal-oreinted experienced teacher, looking for fast-progression and a competitive salary, who is also used to the 'corporate academy chain' atmosphere - then Harris is for you. Do not expect a fair, friendly, welcoming and understanding vibe. DATA & RESULTS ARE A PRIORITY! Less about what you did on your PGCE, If you cannot deliver, expect to be manged out.

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nice

Library Assistant (Former Employee) - harris - 15 June 2020

good working place. stacking books and cleaning the place. hardest part was helping the children and making sure they were happy. flexible hours and good conditions

Pros

flexible

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Do not advise

Kitchen Assistant (Former Employee) - Beckenham - 7 June 2020

Not a great experience. Head chef was a bully. He clearly doesn't like women. Horrible man to work for. Would not advise working here. Go somewhere else

Pros

Hours

Cons

Head chef a bully

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Good

Cleaner (Former Employee) - North London - 23 March 2020

I really enjoyed working at school but unfortunately I had to leave because my workmates did not collaborate much with the group service and that disappointed me. But I was always very dedicated and responsible the whole time I worked there.

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competitive place to work

Art Technician (Former Employee) - Chafford Hundred, Essex - 12 March 2020

I worked in the art department as a technician and also a teaching assistant My role was to to support children within the art department and to help the less able .

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